User independence is becoming increasingly common and is a requirement that Americans expect in more and more locations. Airports are no different; with the Clear Secure system, you can screen through biometric technology without needing a person to receive your documents and verify your ID.
You need to enroll in the Clear Secure system to scan the boarding ticket and then use the system to verify the passenger’s identity. If you have an American Express credit card, is the service free?
Is Clear Secure a free service if I have an AmEx card?
You must pay for the membership to obtain the biometric identification service offered by Clear Secure. The service is not free; however, if you are an AmEx cardholder, there is the possibility to cover the cost of the service with your bank credit account.
Not all American Express cards are available for this option. However, it is a feasible option. Currently, there are 50 different locations in the United States where the Clear Secure service can be used.
Cards that offer an annual membership
Before we explain, remember that this does not mean the service is free. However, American Express offers the option to cover the free annual membership fee for the Clear Secure service through the Amex Platinum card, the Amex Business Platinum card, and the Centurion® card from American Express.
Additionally, if you own a Platinum Card, you can cover up to $189 of your credit card statement credits.
Other cards that have benefits for Clear Secure
The American Express Green Card allows users to offer up to $100 annual credit for the Clear Secure service. This card does not cover the full annual fee of $189. However, it benefits from reducing the annual cost to $119. This is available if you sign up for Clear Secure through Delta or United to reduce the annual fee.
How it’s paying Clear Secure with an AmEx card Works
We already know that charging the Clear service subscription on our American Express cards is possible. Still, to do so, the customer must activate this benefit option and forget about the annual membership fee. It can be activated through Clear Secure or the American Express website.
From Clear’s website
The first thing to do is to go to Clear’s website. You can create an account in the system that will allow you to enroll later.
If you already have an account, log into the active account and select “card” as the payment method.
When you select a card, you will receive the $189 statement and the statement credit. This money will be charged to the American Express credit card within 6 to 8 weeks after applying for the biometric security service Clear Secure.
From the American Express website
To activate the Clear Secure annual fee with American Express, you need to log in to your AmEx account and select the platinum card; if it is not your default card, click on the “rewards and benefits” icon. Once clicked, select “Benefits” again, which is located on the top right-hand side of the page.
The web page will automatically redirect the user to a window with several options explaining the benefits of using the Platinum card. Among the options, there will be one that says “$189 Clear credit” click on it, and the account status will appear.
You must be enrolled to use this partnership. If you are not linked, you will not see the status. However, all you have to do is select the “Activate” icon to use this benefit provided by the card.
Once the AmEx Platinum card and the Clear Secure service have been linked, it will charge the annual fee directly to American Express.
A recommendation when applying for the subscription through American Express is that the link is made with Delta or United. This can help significantly if the user is a member of the programs American Express offers with various airlines; linking with Delta or United can extend AmEx and Clear Secure benefits.
References
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“Benefits Dashboard.” American Express Credit Cards, Rewards & Banking, https://global.americanexpress.com/card-benefits/detail/clear-credit/platinum?intlink=rtt-ntlp-PlatinumPage-Clear-Credit%20%20https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/reviews/american-express-platinum-card/clear-credit/